Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
This will be music to your ears... You may not need to have a colonoscopy as often as you thought. Capital Health Plan’s Quality Improvement Committee, which includes practicing network physicians, approved new pre-certification criteria to encourage appropriate repeat colonoscopy intervals. Beginning September 1st, physicians must first obtain pre-certification before performing colonoscopies for members age 55 and older.
Your doctors may sound like a broken record with frequent reminders to stay up to date with colon screening by doing stool testing and periodic colon exams (flexible sigmoidoscopy-“flex sigs” or colonoscopy). But these reminders have helped more and more members participate in colon screening each year.
The need for screening is understandable, but we still need to hit the right note on how often to repeat colonoscopies. Medical professionals must consider multiple factors when advising a repeat colonoscopy, including: your age, your personal or family history of hyperplastic or adenomatous polyps or colon cancer, and your age or the age of a family member when the lesions were discovered. Even the location, size and number of polyps is considered. These factors, coupled with your practitioner’s clinical judgment, can mean you receive different recommendations from the different practitioners who review your case.
Capital Health Plan developed a system for physicians to determine the appropriate time interval for repeat colonoscopies. The system is evidenced based and takes into account the various factors that influence the decision (for example, age, race, personal and family history, and pathology). The intent is for patients over the age of 50 to receive screening and to provide guidelines so that no one has a colonoscopy more often than is appropriate.
When it is time for your repeat colonoscopy, check with your doctor. You may not need a repeat colonoscopy as soon as was previously recommended.
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
Recently many Americans made a list of New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you committed to improving your health or learning something new. If improving your health was on your list, you might have thought to do that colon check that your friends, family, or doctor have mentioned in the past.
Since the Capital Health Plan Colon Screening Program debuted in 2002, colon screening participation has increased from 48% to 77% in 2009. Make 2010 the year you join the 28,500 members who are current with colon screenings. For some this will mean getting your first screening. For others it will mean updating your participation. But everyone age 50-75 should be screened, and African Americans should begin screening at age 45.
In 2009 Capital Health Plan made colon screening participation easier than ever with a new stool testing kit. Unlike the previous kit, the new stool test is simple and convenient. The test collects only one small sample, and there are no dietary or medication restrictions. Like the old kit, the sample is collected at home. It can be returned by mail or delivered to either CHP location when completed. The results are sent by mail.
Testing stool for non-visible blood is one test for colon cancer screening, but it is also recommended that you have an examination of the colon (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy). Please discuss with your primary care physician the test that is best for you based on the risks and benefits.
In order to cross learn something new off that New Year’s resolution list, we encourage you to learn more about your colon health. To help determine how often and how early colon screening should be done, educate yourself on your personal and family history of colon cancer and colon polyps.
Many people are not aware that having a biopsy at the time of a colon exam (which is painless) does not necessarily mean you have a polyp. After the biopsy is done, a pathologist determines the type cells in the biopsied tissue. Often the tissue is simply an area of normal or thickened tissue, and is not a polyp. True polyps are called "adenomas" and have the potential to change into cancer cells. Therefore, people with a personal or close family history of adenomas are at increased risk for colon cancer. It is important to be informed and work with your doctor to determine the colon screening schedule best for you.
Note: This article is over 60 days old, and may contain information that is out of date, or has been superseded by newer information.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Although we focus on colon cancer screening year round, the nation makes a particular effort to bring attention to this most important health care issue in March. If you are up to date with screening, get involved by encouraging your friends, family, and neighbors to initiate or update their screening. If you are age 50-75 or an African American age 45-75, call the Colon Screening Program now at 523-7350 to get a stool testing kit, and then consider doing a colon exam this year.
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